Opening a Mind

Pianist Denis Plutalov isn't shy about expressing his opinions. In a recent interview, he called his native Russia "the land of dictators" and suggested that his teachers there were highly dictatorial in their treatment of him.

"You never received any kind of appreciation - only harsh criticism," he said. "I just wanted to give up music."

The inspiration of several friends and of some great musicians from Russia kept Plutalov from following through on his threat. So has Eric Larsen, an instructor at the N.C. School of the Arts who met Plutalov in Russia about 10 years ago and, despite difficulties in maintaining contact, managed to bring him here last year.

In addition to pursuing a master's degree under Larsen's supervision, Plutalov has been teaching at NCSA's Community Music School, accompanying other instrumentalists and playing a bit of chamber music. Local listeners can experience the effect that all of this has had on him on Saturday when he performs Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto with the arts school's Symphony Orchestra at the Stevens Center. The performance came about because Plutalov won NCSA's concerto competition. It will be part of a concert that includes Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World"). Serge Zehnacker will conduct.

Plutalov said that he is considering becoming an American citizen. He has attached a pin of an American flag to his suit to show how grateful he is to his adopted country. In his eyes, the United States has given him plenty of opportunities to grow as a musician, and he has taken full advantage of them.

"It's really a marvelous and amazing experience - especially studying with such a great musician as Eric Larsen," Plutalov said. "He's a completely devoted person. He never gives refusals to his students. He never harshly criticizes them." The result, it seems, is a different player.

"He (Larsen) changed my style," Plutalov said. "He changed my school (of playing). He changed everything."

Larsen is not certain that he has transformed Plutalov into what he called "an American pianist, whatever that means." But, Larsen said, Plutalov seems to have become less enslaved by musical orthodoxy.

"He (Plutalov) was interested in outside influences," Larsen said. "I gave him different perspectives on thinking about things. He's now a little more open-minded."

That open-mindedness will extend to the Rachmaninov concerto, which may be the 20th century's most challenging example of the form.

At 27, Plutalov can now say that "I'm getting old" - which means that he has either surpassed or will soon surpass the age limits for entering piano competitions that could move his solo career forward. So with Larsen's help, he is trying to come up with other ways to make a living in music. After NCSA, he will either pursue a doctorate degree, which could land him a university job somewhere, or he will continue to combine the playing and teaching that he is already doing.

For now, though, he is devoting most of his attention to the Third Concerto, which he has been studying much of his life.

"This performance ... represents a milestone in my musical life and of my understanding of this piece," he said. "Rachmaninov considered it one his most beloved and greatest works. The (first movement's) main theme - and it will be played much slower than other soloists perform it -represents the really complicated way of Russia. You can hear the soul of Russia in the very first theme, and the way Russia goes. Nobody knows where Russia goes."

• Under Serge Zehnacker's direction, the N.C. School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Stevens Center. The featured work will be Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto, with Denis Plutalov as soloist. Tickets are $12, $10 for students and seniors. Call 721-1945.